Expanded CIBC Discovery Gallery Opens March 10, 2007

Friday, February 9, 2007 - 00:00

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is proud to unveil the expanded and relocated CIBC Discovery Gallery on Level 2 of the Philosophers’ Walk Building. Starting Saturday, March 10 ,visitors of all ages can engage in an abundance of hands-on activities and real artifacts that bring discovery to life. Venturing through CIBC Discovery Gallery’s three main areas, In the Earth, Around the World and Close to Home, visitors of all ages can learn more about the world around them.

The CIBC Discovery Galley encourages visitors to be playful and energetic. This “mini-museum” also allows visitors to enjoy bright, child-friendly activity centres. Each area is supervised by experienced gallery facilitators.

The In the Earth section brings to life the ROM’s natural history collections. In the Meteorite Activity, visitors may hold and study the structure of some of our solar system’s oldest rocks, and distinguish meteorites from earth-originated-rock samples. The Fossils Wall features fossils of soft-bodied animals found in the Burgess Shale, a 505 million year old site in the mountains of British Columbia’s Yoho National Park. Visitors can also touch a Hadrosaur femur on the Hadrosaur Wall display to feel the surfaces and learn how Paleontologists determine what dinosaurs may have looked like, by comparing their bones with those of modern animals.

Human cultures are showcased in the next section, Around the World. Chinese artifacts on display include a wine vessel, Han Dynasty horse, a jade duck and a Chinese robe. As an activity, visitors learn the meaning of the symbols on the robe. The experience continues with the Armour display, where children can try on replica clothing and armour in an area complete with mirrors. Everyone can get a sense of the heavy weight armoured soldiers had to bear. Visitors can see complete Mughul armour including a chainmail shirt and leggings,chestplate, shield, helmet and weapons. The Ancient Egypt Wall displays a mummy and mummified cat, amulets and statues. Visitors get to touch a real Canopic Jar from 700 – 400 BC.

In Close to Home, the culture of Canada’s First Peoples is explored. Visitors will see “pictographs” (painted drawings made with the spongy part of buffalo bones), which tell of important achievements in war, and examine a buffalo robe painting by Running Rabbit, a head chief of the Blackfoot. Young visitors can crawl around inside a kid sized tipi and try on a wood-smoked buffalo robe.

The Museum’s original Discovery Gallery has been a family favourite since 1977. The redesigned and expanded space will make the CIBC Discovery Gallery an even more popular destination for families to enjoy. The CIBC Discovery Gallery was named in 2003 in honour and recognition of CIBC's generous support of Renaissance ROM.